GAME STATS Wheaton, Ill. -- The Wheaton men's soccer team's recent win over North Park offered an appealing prospect of the #2 seed in the 2022 CCIW Tournament and a first-round bye for this weekend's quarterfinal matches. But the Thunder knew that they would have to take care of business at home in tonight's regular season finale before they could think about enjoying the weekend off and hosting a tournament semifinal next week. This evening's visitors, the Millikin Big Blue, did their best to try to spoil the party, but the home side eventually earned a tight 1-0 win and clinched the program's highest finish in the conference table since the 2015 season.

Tonight's contest got off to a slow and frustrating start for the hosts, and Millikin registered the first attempt on target in the 14th minute. Both teams tested each other's goalkeepers, and the match saw plenty of squad rotation as the guests had nothing to lose in the final match of their season and the Thunder tried to keep their legs fresh before heading into the postseason. Wheaton finally broke through six minutes before halftime when Grant Roney fashioned a smart move down the right wing and teed up a cross into the box for Nati Hamilton to head home. Millikin had another shot on target saved just a minute later as they sought an immediate equalizer, but Wheaton held on for a slim lead at the break.

The Thunder took control of proceedings for most of the second half and racked up eight shots on goal after the intermission, but a determined Millikin defensive unit kept the scoreline down, and the Thunder were only able to celebrate after repelling a late Big Blue attacking flurry. Tonight's win marked the first home conference victory for the Wheaton men and only their second clean sheet of the season. But it could not have come at a better time, as the result enabled them to achieve their goal of a top two finish in the conference.

Wheaton generated an impressive 18 efforts this evening, 10 of which were on target. Millikin upheld their end of the bargain with 11 shots and seven looks at goal. The Thunder earned ten corner kicks to the Big Blue's three. Mason Escalante was in top form for the hosts tonight in his second consecutive start in goal, as the sophomore tallied seven saves. The game was a fairly clean affair with both sides being whistled for eight fouls and Millikin receiving the game's only yellow card. Hamilton, Jack Jacquet, and Kyle Johnson each contributed two shots on target to direct the Thunder attack this evening. Roney, Alessandro D'Argento, Cameron Hoober, and Michael Martens all registered one attempt on goal.

Thanks to their key road victory at North Park last weekend, Wheaton will go into next week's conference tournament semifinals as the two seed via their head-to-head tiebreaker over the Vikings. The Thunder will host the winner of Saturday's first round matchup between North Park and Carroll next Wednesday at 7 PM.